Key-guard.



No. 628,438. Patented July 4, I899. L. L. nowume.

KEY GUARD.

(Application filed Feb. 23, 1899.)

(No Model.)

LczndonLDou/nz' we rotwawwm M a m: nunms PETERiCO, mroum'o WASHINGTON, cry 0.

UNITED STATES" "PATENT, OFFICE.

LANDON L. DOVVNING, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

KEY-GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,438, dated July 4, 1899; Application filed February 23, 1899. Serial Nor 706,608. No model.)

of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Guards; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as .will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains' to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specificaits ends.

tion.

My invention relates to an improvement in key-guards; and it consists in a plate which is rigidly secured to the door above the lock and a slide which moves horizontally back and forth thereon, combined with a rod which has a free endwise movement through the slide and which is adapted to have its lower end passed through the key or to be moved to one side out of the Way when not in use, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a device which will prevent the key from being turned by means of nippers or from being pushed out of position so that another key can be used in its place, and thus prevent burglars or others from unlocking the door from the outside.

In the accompanying drawings, which represent a device embodying my invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my key-fastener, the rod being shown in one position in solid lines and in another position in dotted ones.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same.

A represents a plate, of any suitable length or width, which is rigidly secured to the door at any suitable distance above the lock; This plate serves merely as a guide for the slide 13, which moves freely back and forth thereon. here shown or any other that may be preferred and serves as a support for the rod 0, which is provided with a head D at each of The slide is'moved back and forth upon the plate for the purpose of changing the position of the rod in relation to the key. The rod is sufficiently long to pass The slide B may be of the construction through the key after the door has been locked for the purpose of preventing the key from being either turned by means of nippers applied from the opposite side of the door or from being pushed out of the look so that an other key can be used. -The rod has a free vertical play through'the slide, so as to enable it to have its lower end passed through the key or to be removed therefrom, and the slide, by being moved back and forth upon the plate, enables the rod when not in use to be turned in such a position that it will rest against the door-knob, as shown in dotted lines, and thus be held out of the way.

After the door has been locked the slide is moved to one side or the other of the knob, according to the position of the key, and thus the rod is raised sufiiciently far to allow its lower end to be passed through the key.

While in this position the key can neither be forced from the look from the outside nor can a burglar apply nippers to its inner end for the purpose of operating it. After the rod has been withdrawn from the key, so that the door can be unlocked, it is only necessary to push the slide to the opposite end of the plate A, when the rod will assume the inclined position against the door, where it will be entirely out of the way under any circumstances.

Heretofore bent rods have been used for retaining keys in position, but never before has a straight rod been used in connection with a slide which is adjustable back and forth in relation to the knob, so that the rod when not in use will be held out of the way.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- A plate secured to the door above the knob, and a slide moving back and forth thereon, combined with a headed rod which has an endwise movement through the slide, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LANDON L. DOWNING. 

